Mole Valley, and the Leatherhead area in particular, have experienced instances of some members of the traveller community allegedly leaving rubbish and “human waste” behind after pitching up unlawfully.

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Travellers in Surrey

However, Jenny Moore, who works at the Beatitude shop in Leatherhead and has been a supporter of the legal gypsy encampment at River Lane in Fetcham since 2003, said putting more powers into enforcement is not the answer.

"The answer is not better enforcement," she said. "The answer is better engagement, with more talking and more understanding for the needs of the community.

"The main issue is that there are not enough sites [for gypsies and travellers] in Surrey and not enough sites across the whole country."

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Mrs Moore is a supporter of four families who have been living on a site they purchased at River Lane as grazing land.

In that time they have had four planning applications for permanent residence turned down but have continually been granted temporary permission, which currently runs until mid-2020, due to insufficient permanent sites being available in Mole Valley.

At the debate on Monday, Sir Paul Beresford, MP for Mole Valley, was one of those in favour of a change in the law to deter travellers who move across the country and establish temporary encampments on public land.

He said: "Surrey, and Mole Valley in particular, have had considerable and unpleasant experiences of travellers.

"Those groups have been taking anything between one and 30 caravans, plus associated vehicles. They descend on the site and squat.

"Civil action to remove them can take between days and weeks, and is very expensive, especially for some of Surrey’s little parish councils."

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He added: "When they have eventually been removed by expensive bailiffs, the sites are generally disgusting, featuring everything from food waste to children’s soiled nappies and worse."

Mrs Moore was critical of Sir Paul's remarks, arguing that money spent forcing travellers to move on is never going to get the root of the problem.

She said: "Sir Paul Beresford does often seem to be on a mission to remove all gypsies and travellers from the county.

"But our experience of the site at River Lane is completely different to what he says. It is always neat and tidy.

Jenny Moore supports four families at a temporary gypsy site in River Lane, Fetcham (Image: Grant Melton)

"Though he does seem to always try and omit the River Lane group from what he says."

Sir Paul, though, has only spoken in favour of preventing illegal incursions, and not forcing those who are legally living in Surrey to leave.

Mrs Moore said money would be better spent talking to the gypsy and traveller community, rather than being spent on enforcement.

She added: "What is required is a change of attitude and a change of mindset to deal with the problem and I would really urge Mole Valley [District Council] to have a strong voice on this and not just listen to the few very loud, very angry voices."

At the debate Mr Sharma told MPs the Government would consult on the "effectiveness of enforcement" against such sites, to see if current provisions can be used more effectively.

Travellers on Fetcham Grove in May 2017 (Image: Leatherhead Living)

And while Mrs Moore does agree that in some cases travellers do leave a mess behind, she said it is important to look at the bigger picture.

She said: "Of course some travellers do leave a terrible mess when they leave a site but most don't and it is important to not tar everyone with the same brush.

"To end on a positive note what I would say is I am looking forward to Mole Valley looking to engage and provide further provision for travellers in the future."

Mole Valley District Council has been contacted for comment.

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